Raleigh’s MLB-leading 44th, Rodriguez’s 2 hits Propel Mariners 7-4

The Seattle Mariners kept their postseason hopes alive in dramatic fashion on Saturday night. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 at T-Mobile Park.

Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez each went deep, powering the Mariners to their sixth straight win. It all happened on a night when franchise legend Ichiro Suzuki’s No. 51 jersey was retired in an emotional pregame ceremony.

The crowd was loud and buzzing. Seattle’s bats woke up, and the team looked every bit like a serious American League contender.

Cal Raleigh Powers Seattle with Another Big Swing

Raleigh’s become one of baseball’s top power hitters in 2024. Saturday night, he put on another show.

The Mariners catcher crushed his MLB-leading 44th home run of the season—a three-run shot in the third inning. That blast put Seattle in firm control.

It marked his third straight game with a homer. Raleigh’s been remarkably consistent at the plate lately.

A Remarkable Season for Raleigh

This latest long ball gave him even more breathing room in the home run race. He keeps delivering in big moments.

The timing couldn’t be better, with the Mariners fighting to stay on top of a tight AL West race.

Julio Rodríguez Delivers a Multi-Homer Game

Raleigh had the big blow, but Rodríguez set the tone early and kept the energy high. The young star crushed solo homers in both the first and fifth innings.

It was his first multi-homer game of the year. His power surge fired up more than 45,000 fans who came for Ichiro and playoff-level baseball.

Rodríguez Lighting Up the Second Half

Rodríguez has been heating up at the plate lately. When he’s locked in, Seattle’s odds of winning shoot way up.

His speed, defense, and power make him the heartbeat of this team.

Pitching Holds Firm Against Rays Offense

Logan Gilbert gave the Mariners a steady start on the mound. He tossed six innings, allowed three runs, struck out seven, and walked just one.

Gilbert bounced back after Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz homered in the first inning. He kept the Rays from mounting any big rallies through the middle part of the game.

Bullpen Seals the Deal

After Gilbert exited, the Mariners bullpen got tested. Tampa Bay scratched across a run in the eighth to make it interesting.

Reliever Ryne Stanek wriggled out of trouble to keep Seattle ahead. In the ninth, closer Andrés Muñoz shut the door with a scoreless inning, earning his 28th save and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Ichiro Honored Before the Game

Before first pitch, the Mariners honored one of their all-time greats by retiring Ichiro Suzuki’s No. 51. The ceremony was heartfelt and a little bittersweet for fans and players alike.

It was a reminder of Ichiro’s massive impact on the game and his special bond with Seattle. The team answered with a performance Ichiro would’ve loved—dynamic offense, gritty pitching, and a crowd that never lost its voice.

Seattle Staying Strong in AL West Race

With this win, Seattle held on to its lead in the American League West. The postseason is creeping closer, and the Mariners are picking up steam.

They’ve been mixing timely power with reliable pitching during this six-game streak. If they keep this up, who knows how far they could go in October?

Key Takeaways from the Mariners’ Win

Saturday night’s victory gave Seattle a handful of encouraging signs as they approach the end of the season.

• Cal Raleigh keeps crushing home runs, leading MLB with 44.
• Julio Rodríguez finally had his first multi-homer game of 2024, which has to feel good for him.
• Logan Gilbert battled through some early trouble and still gave the team solid innings.
• The bullpen managed to hang on, even with Tampa Bay threatening late.
• The Mariners feed off the energy of big crowds and the buzz of playoff hopes.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Raleigh hits MLB-best 44th homer and Rodríguez connects twice as streaking Mariners top Rays 7-4